Domestic Violence Help At Your Job

September 24, 2014

Public scrutiny has recently focused on the NFL’s response to accusations against its players of domestic violence. Massachusetts is currently addressing another side of domestic violence— employers’ treatment of the victims of domestic violence. On August 8, 2014, Governor Deval Patrick signed a new law that requires employers with fifty or more employees to provide employees who are victims of domestic violence up to fifteen days of leave in any twelve-month period. See St. 2014, c. 260, § 13.

Domestic violence can cause a wide array of problems. Victims may require medical and legal assistance. They may need to go to counseling, custody hearings, or find new housing. Financial pressures become an additional problem when victims have to choose between keeping their job and getting the help they need.

The new law addresses these situations by allowing up to fifteen days of unpaid leave in any twelve-month period. The law applies to employees who are victims or family members of victims of domestic violence, so long as the employee is not the perpetrator of the abusive behavior. The law applies to all employees, regardless of how many hours they work or how long they have been employed. The new law specifies that leave is available for the following purposes:

To address other issues directly related to the abusive behavior against the employee or family member of the employee

The law allows employers to determine whether the leave is paid or unpaid, and requires employees to exhaust other vacation or leave time first. Employees are required to give advanced notice, where possible, and employers can require documentation showing that the employee or employee’s family member has been a victim of domestic violence.

Employers are required to keep information about the employee’s leave under this section confidential, with some itemized exceptions. Employers must not discharge, penalize, or discriminate against an employee for exercising the employee’s rights under this new law. Employers are also required to notify employees of their rights and responsibilities under this section. (This law is similar to G. L. c. 258B § 3(l), which allows leave for employees who have been a victim of a crime or have been subpoenaed as a witness.)

The new law was effective immediately. Employers with fifty or more employees should review and update their processes and policies for dealing with domestic violence. If you have questions about how this new law might apply to your family or business, call the attorneys at Hutchins Law, P.C. today.

What our clients are saying...

I was at the end of my rope dealing with an insurance company regarding a personal injury case when I was referred to Attorney Hutchins. He was very professional and on point. I gave him all the information when we first met in his office. He then settled the case to my satisfaction.Janice - Shrewsbury, MA

On three separate occasions, I was represented by Aaron Hutchins. In every case, Attorney Hutchins was attentive, diligent, informative, and direct. He won every case. He is an attorney I highly recommend to both family and friends.Michelle - Northborough, MA

Thank you very much for your help in updating our Estate Planning documents. We were impressed by your professionalism and grateful that you made the process simple and convenient. Thank you for being very patient with us and allowing us to move with our own speed until we were ready. We will certainly consider Hutchins Law, P.C. for any legal matters in the future.Kristina - Marlborough, MA

Attorney Hutchins provided efficient and professional service. His communication and guidance was clear and concise. He answered all my questions before finalizing the documents. We finalized documents promptly at the agreed upon time; and they were well organized and professional. I would return to Hutchins Law, P.C. for any attorney needs; and would recommend them with confidence.Ken - Marlborough, MA

Thank you for your recent assistance with our estate plan. You made this process very professional and efficient. We appreciate the excellent advice and guidance. It is comforting to know that we have you to turn to in the future for legal support if and when we need it.
Richard - Lexington, MA

Attorney Hutchins did an excellent job for me during my divorce. He lead me through the entire process and provided good advice. When it came to the agreement discussions and the court hearing, he represented me well and got me a fair settlement.Andy - South Grafton

Thank you very much for taking over my very complicated case when everyone else refused to take me on as a client. For the last three years, I was losing every decision by the court. Thanks to your careful preparation, I was victorious at trial. Thanks to you, my children and I now have greater stability in our lives. You always had time for me and you have always carefully explored all options.
Marketa - Westborough, MA

I'm glad I chose you to work on my case. You made it easy and I was happily surprised by the outcome. I have already referred you to some of my friends. Thanks again.Igor - Worcester, MA

Hutchins Law, P.C. was an invaluable asset as I worked through the court system during my divorce proceedings. I knew I was in good hands and confident in their abilities; so much so that the team also worked with me through my estate planning. Attorney Hutchins is an irreplaceable, highly recommended talent.Jennifer - Shrewsbury, MA

Attorney Hutchins was the first one to come to mind when we needed to make sure my elderly dad was represented properly for his financial representation. He worked with our schedule and came to us when needed. He puts everyone at ease and makes sure you clearly understand what is happening. I would highly recommend Attorney Hutchins.Jan - Hudson, MA

I've found Attorney Hutchins to be very professional, involved and personable. He answered all my questions and made sure I understood the answers. This is in distinct contrast with another legal firm I used in the past. My family and I have used his services three times in the past few years (legal defense, estate planning, and real estate) and won't hesitate to do so again if the need arises, which speaks for itself.Jonathan - Ashland, MA

We used Attorney Hutchins for divorce mediation. He guided us through the process explaining everything in detail making sure we were making decisions we were both comfortable with. He was professional, impartial, and fair through the whole process. His communication was very efficient, updates to documents were made quickly, and he met with us at convenient times. The whole process took a little over a month and could have been even faster if we hadn't had to wait on other processes to complete. He was also upfront about his fee which was very reasonable. I would recommend Attorney Hutchins forNadia - Northborough, MA

We were very comfortable standing before the judge on the day of the hearing. Everything went fine. In fact, the judge said that he was pleased to see one of the best separation agreements written! Thank you for all your help. I’ve referred you to several people that I know.Michele - Boylston, MA

I was very pleased with my experience with Hutchins Law. Mr. Hutchins is smart, personable and responsive. If legal action is necessary to right a wrong, it’s important to do it the right way. My son's personal injury case was handled with kindness, understanding, and professional work which got a settlement. I strongly recommend Hutchins Law and would definitely use him again for any legal matters. I give him my thanks.Nicole - Hudson

Attorney Hutchins represented me during my divorce proceedings. He was very ethical, professional, and made the entire process less stressful. I would definitely use him in the future for legal matters; I highly recommend him.Ozzy - Westborough, MA

Thank you for assisting me with my case. You were very professional and efficient. I've never had a hearing move so quickly! Great job and I will absolutely recommend you to anyone needing legal counsel or representation.Rob - Sterling, MA

Attorney Hutchins made the process behind creating an estate plan much easier than we thought it would be. It was clear, professional, and easily executed. We feel much safer knowing that our interests are protected, especially as we welcome our first child into the family.Amber - Marlborough, MA

I wanted to thank you for the kindness and compassion you had shown about my recent legal matter. For most this was a very small issue but for me it looked and sounded daunting . You were very patient and understanding . I believe your professionalism and experience got us the positive result we hoped for. Thanks once again for everything, you are a great attorney.Ann - South Grafton, MA

I've found Attorney Hutchins to be very professional and personally involved, yet personable. He answered all my questions and made sure I understood the answers. This is in distinct contrast with another legal firm I used in the past. My family and I have used his services three times in the past few years (legal defense, estate planning, and real estate) and won't hesitate to do so again if the need arises, which speaks for itself.Jonathan - Ashland, MA

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I wanted to thank you for the kindness and compassion you had shown about my recent legal matter. For most this was a very small issue but for me it looked and sounded daunting . You were very patient and understanding . I believe your professionalism and experience got us the positive result we hoped for. Thanks once again for everything, you are a great attorney.Ann - South Grafton, MA

I just wanted to say thank you very much for such a great job you did on our wills. We were both very impressed with your work. I would highly recommend you to any of my friends.Katherine - Worcester, MA

My daughter was very nervous heading to court, but as soon as she met Attorney Hutchins, and saw how professional he appeared at court she instantly felt that everything would be OK. I would definitely recommend Mr. Hutchins to friends and family.Mary - Marlborough, MA

Just wanted to thank you again for a great job representing us! We definitely appreciate it and would recommend you to our Massachusetts friends and family.Mike & Laurie - St. Cloud, FL

Attorney Hutchins handled our recent real estate closing. We were very pleased with his communication, attention to detail, and thoroughness. He handled every aspect of this transaction in a diligent, professional manner. What a breath of fresh air!Ellen - Shrewsbury, MA

I just want to thank you for all you did. Without your help I would not have got any money. I like how you were professional with getting this settlement resolved in a timely manner. I appreciate the
way you kept me informed on what was happening with the case. I would recommend your service to
any one looking for a lawyer.Eric - Berlin, MA

Attorney Hutchins was the perfect lawyer for my needs. He answered my questions quickly and thoroughly. He kept me focused on the important issues to get me the best settlement possible, while still working to complete the case in a timely manner. He read through the agreement, and made suggestions and corrections, and stood up in court and made sure that an issue was resolved as agreed, which favored me. He was prompt, beating us to the courthouse (we were the first case) and was well prepared. I would recommend him highly.K - Shrewsbury, MA

I have bought and sold a number of properties over the years and for my last closing I used Hutchins Law, P.C. All of my concerns were addressed promptly and the closing went off without any issue because they had already thought about the issues and addressed them. At my future closings Hutchins Law, P.C. will be there to represent me.Spencer - Wayland, MA

Thank you very much for all you have done, I am very blessed to have had your help. I am so relieved to have this all behind me. It is a huge weight lifted off my shoulders. Thank you for your time and generosity. May God bless you and your family.Nicole - Hopkinton, MA

Thank you for your outstanding efforts in my defense. Your knowledge and professionalism were comforting as my end results were exactly as you had predicted. Should a friend become in trouble, I will certainly send them your way. Your reasonable fees equate to a ten times savings of what my costs would have been without you.Hannah - Worcester, MA

Attorney Hutchins was my lawyer in a very difficult divorce lasting several years. Throughout the process I found him to be very knowledgable on the law, and honest in every aspect of his interactions with me. He was efficient with his time and his rates were more than fair. He is not a lawyer that falls into the drama that so many lawyers bring to the courtroom, and his ability to stick to the law and present the facts in a clear and concise manner was very refreshing....It is good to be able to look over the process and knowMark - Leominster, MA

Over Memorial Day weekend, our son hit a tree while driving his vehicle. The incident resulted in 2 criminal and 2 civil citations. We had never dealt with anything like this. With only one day to find and prepare for our son's initial court hearing, I began a search for legal representation. I emailed 4 attorneys and hoped, given the holiday weekend, that someone would see our plea for help and respond. That same day we not only received a response from Attorney Hutchins, but he also agreed to meet us that evening. We left the meeting well informed and felt prepared for theAnonymous

… We have been most impressed by your quiet, thoughtful, honest, and clearly explained descriptions of how to best structure our wills. In particular, we had no idea how important it was to set up trusts to protect our estate for our kids' benefit.
… We are very comfortable now that should something happen to either of us, our estate will be secure and will continue to support our four kids as they begin their lives. Both of us would be happy to speak with prospective clients about our experience with you.David and Nancy - Northborough, MA

Attorney Hutchins was professional and met with me very quickly. He assisted in seeking out alternative solutions to my upcoming case. He had honest concern about not only my case but with myself.Ry - Boston, MA

Thank you for making a sensitive subject easy to complete. The preparation of my estate plan from start to finish was completed in the most professional/friendly manner. Your responses to my questions were immediate. I will certainly pass your name to others that may require this service.Carol-Ann - Westborough, MA

I truly do appreciate your willingness not only to help, but also to make that assistance more financially manageable for us. I may need to call you soon on other matters. Thank you very much for your time and support. I truly am grateful.
Christopher - Medway, MA

Attorney Hutchins did a great job preparing needed estate planning documents for my brother. This was very important in enabling me to handle my brother's health and financial circumstances.Richard - Franklin, MA

I've found Attorney Hutchins to be very professional and personally involved, yet personable. He answered all my questions and made sure I understood the answers. This is in distinct contrast with another legal firm I used in the past. My family and I have used his services three times in the past few years (legal defense, estate planning, and real estate) and won't hesitate to do so again if the need arises, which speaks for itself.Jonathan - Ashland, MA

The strengths that Attorney Hutchins showed - being aggressive, honest and looking out for my best interests are why I hired him to be my counsel and advocate. I could not and would not have gone through with my divorce without his guidance and strength. He was fantastic.Shelley - Leominster, MA

I was at the end of my rope dealing with an insurance company regarding a personal injury case when I was referred to Attorney Hutchins. He was very professional and on point. I gave him all the information when we first met in his office. He then settled the case to my satisfaction.Janice - Shrewsbury, MA

Hutchins Law, P.C. is a general practice firm with an emphasis in Litigation & Mediation that has proudly been serving the Northborough, Worcester County region and Massachusetts since 2008. To better server our customers, in 2016 we opened a second location in Hudson, MA.